Expansion of Project Cheetah
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary Set for Cheetah Reintroduction: Madhya Pradesh has officially approved Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary as the state’s third cheetah site, following Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, confirming that cheetahs sourced from Namibia will be introduced under Project Cheetah. This expansion aims to disperse ecological risk and strengthen metapopulation management across central India.
Static GK fact: Project Cheetah was launched in 2022 to reintroduce the species after it became extinct in India in 1952.
Strategic Importance of Nauradehi
Nauradehi Sanctuary, located between the Chambal and Vindhyan ranges, offers a diverse landscape suitable for predator-prey balance. The site’s selection follows the operational success of cheetah management at Kuno and Gandhi Sagar. Officials highlight that this move will reduce ecological pressure on Kuno while enhancing tourism prospects and local livelihoods.
Static GK fact: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
Translocation and Monitoring Protocols
The first batch of cheetahs will arrive from Namibia under existing inter-governmental agreements. The animals will undergo soft release in large acclimatization enclosures before being allowed into the wild. Each cheetah will be equipped with satellite-GPS collars to ensure 24×7 tracking. Dedicated teams will handle prey augmentation, veterinary monitoring, and conflict mitigation around fringe villages.
Static GK Tip: Namibia was the first African nation to export cheetahs to India for conservation translocation.
Complementary Conservation Measures
Alongside the cheetah initiative, six crocodiles—four females and two males—were released into the Indira Sagar Dam backwaters, transported from Van Vihar, Bhopal. Additionally, a gharial exchange program with Assam is underway to improve breeding diversity. These aquatic species efforts complement large carnivore programs by restoring riverine trophic balance and strengthening biodiversity corridors.
Static GK fact: The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is listed as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List.
Omkareshwar Sanctuary and Future Prospects
The government is also preparing a notification for the 61,407-hectare Omkareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across Khandwa and Dewas districts. The area, close to the Narmada River, is expected to gain tiger reserve status in the future. Together with Nauradehi, these initiatives represent Madhya Pradesh’s goal of building a multi-species, multi-habitat conservation model balancing eco-tourism, community participation, and rigorous monitoring.
Static GK Tip: Madhya Pradesh is known as the “Tiger State of India” for hosting the country’s largest tiger population.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary Set for Cheetah Reintroduction:
| Topic | Detail |
| Sanctuary approved for cheetah reintroduction | Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh |
| Other cheetah sites in MP | Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary |
| Source country for cheetahs | Namibia |
| Project name | Project Cheetah |
| Key official announcement | Chief Minister Mohan Yadav |
| Area of Omkareshwar Sanctuary | 61,407 hectares (≈614 sq km) |
| Crocodile release site | Indira Sagar Dam, Madhya Pradesh |
| Gharial exchange partner state | Assam |
| Tracking method for cheetahs | Satellite-GPS collars and 24×7 monitoring |
| Objective of expansion | Build central Indian cheetah metapopulation and boost biodiversity |
